FIRE-RESISTANT STEEL EXCELLENT IN LOW-TEMPERATURE TOUGHNESS AND REHEAT EMBRITTLEMENT RESISTANCE OF WELDING HEAT AFFECTED ZONE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF THE SAME

The present invention provides a fire-resistant steel material superior in weld heat affected zone reheat embrittlement resistance and low temperature toughness when welded by large heat input and exposed to fire and a method of production of the same, that is, a material containing C: 0.012 to 0.050%, Mn: 0.80 to 2.00%, Cr: 0.80 to 1.90%, and Nb: 0.01 to less than 0.05%, restricting Cu to 0.10% or less, containing suitable quantities of Si, N, Ti, and Al, restricting the contents of Mo, B, P, S, and O, and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, having contents of C, Mn, Cr, Nb, and Cu satisfying −1200C−20Mn+30Cr−330Nb−120Cu −80, having a steel structure as observed by an optical microscope of an area fraction of 80% or more of a ferrite phase, and having a balance of the steel structure of a bainite phase, martensite phase, and mixed martensite-austenite structure.